Floor latch strip for railway cars

ABSTRACT

A floor latch strip for railway cars is provided with at least one continuous, open-topped, longitudinal channel which facilitates cleaning of the entire latch strip. The latch strip provides a series of spaced, transverse recesses that serve the latch keeping function and which interconnect two sides of the channel to facilitate cleaning.

Hasseliot et al.

1451 Feb. 11, 1975 FLOOR LATCH STRIP FOR RAIILWAY CARS [75] Inventors:Donald Elmer Hassellof, Munster.

' lnd.; Cyril George Scherer, Olympic Fields, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Stanray Corporation, Chicago, Ill.

{22] Filed: May 11, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 359,718

52 11.5. C1 105/376, 105/369 A, 105/422 1511 1111.01 Bold 17/00 [58]Field. of Search 105/376, 368 T, 369 A,

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,422,773 l/l969 Lundvall etal .l. lO5/376 ll/l969 Lundvall 61 "1| 105/376 x 1/1970 Lundvall m1l05/376 x Primary ExaminerM. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant E.\'z1minerGeneA. Church Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Stone, Wagner & Aubel [57] ABSTRACT Afloor latch strip for railway cars is provided with at least onecontinuous, open-topped, longitudinal channel which facilitates cleaningof the entire latch strip. The latch strip provides a series of spaced,transverse recesses that serve the latch keeping function and whichinterconnect two sides of the channel to facilitate cleaning.

6 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures FLOOR LATCH STRIP FOR RAILWAY CARS Thisinvention relates to a floor latch strip and more particularly to afloor latch strip wherein locking slots are provided which facilitatecleaning of the strip.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a floorlatch strip for use in a freight-carrying vehicle equipped with a ladingseparator carrying downwardly projecting latch elements, the floor latchstrip comprising an elongated body formed of two bars each having anM-shaped transverse cross section, the bars being positionedlongitudinally of the vehicle to form with the vehicle upper and lowerlongitudinally extending channels, a keeper fixedly secured to the twobars and extending substantially the entire length thereof, the bottomof the keeper being secured to the lower channel and sealing the lowerchannel from the upper channel, the keeper having a plurality of lockingslots therein for cooperating with the latch elements to latch thelading separators in place, the bottom of the slots lying in the sameplane as the horizontally extending surfaces of the upper channel,whereby the upper channel is readily cleanable due to the alignment ofthe slots with the upper channel and the lower channel is prevented frombeing filled with debris due to the sealing thereof by the keeper.

This and other objects of the present invention together with furtherobjects and advantages thereof will best be understood by reference tothe following specifications taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a transverse perspective view of a railway car embodying thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevational view partly in sectionshowing latch pins of a lading separator engaged in the floor latchstrip embodying the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the lading separator and floor latch stripshown in FIG. 2 taken along lines 3-3 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the floor latch strip shown inFIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of the ends of the floor latchstrip shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the floor latch strip shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the second embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a third embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a railway car 50 havingspaced apart and parallel side walls 51 interconnected by a roof 52 anda floor 53. The railway car 50 is constructed and arranged to ride onthe usual truck structure shown in phantom in FIG. 1 and includes asub-floor 55 which extends above the floor 53 and provides a loadsupporting surface for the railway car 50. The deck 55 is constructed ofa plurality of planks extending transversely of the railway car 50 andhas therein two longitudinally spaced apart channels 60. The channels 60divide the deck 55 into two end sections 61 which lie between theadjacent side wall 51 and the respective ones of the channels 60. Eachof the end sections 61 of the deck 55 has a vertically extending innersurface 62 and a horizontally extending top surface 63. A notch 64 isprovided at the juncture between the top surface 63 and the innersurface 62 of the end sections 61, the notch 64 extending thelongitudinal length ofthe deck 55 and having a horizontal bearingsurface 66 and a vertical abutment surface 67. The deck 55 also includesa center section 71 intermediate the two channels 60, the center section71 having on the sides thereof longitudinally extending inner surfaces72 interconnected by a top surface 73. Two notches 74 are provided inthe center section 71 at the respective junctures of the top surface 73and the two inner surfaces 72, each of the notches 74 having ahorizontally extending bearing surface 76 and a vertically extendingabutment surface 77. Each of the two channels 60 includes a bottomsurface 80 or bight interconnecting the inner surface 62 of therespective one of the end sections 61 and the adjacent inner surface 72of the center section 71.

The railway car 50 has two tracks respectively positioned in the uppercorners of the railway car formed between the roof 52and the side walls511. Each of the tracks 85 is provided with an attachment flange 86 forattachment to the adjacent side wall 51 and an attachment flange 87 forattachment to the roof 52. A plurality of latch openings 88 extendthrough a horizontally disposed flange of the tracks 85 and are adaptedto receive therein latch pins carried by a bulkhead or lading separator90, all as is well known in the art. Each of the bulkheads or ladingseparators 90 carries at least two bulkhead latching bars 95, eachhaving two teeth 96 extending downwardly therefrom for attachment ashereinafter will be set forth. Further, the bulkhead latching bars arealso provided with attachment means (not shown) for cooperation with thelatch openings 88 pro vided in the tracks 85.

The railway car 50 incorporating the present invention has two spacedapart and longitudinally extending latch strips 100. It is understoodthat there are two latch strips 100 but since they are identical inconstruction, only one will be described herein.

The latch strips 100 are each positioned in a respective one of thechannels 60 and are mounted centrally of the channels between the walls62 and 72 of the end section 61 and center section 71, respectively. Thelatch strip 100 is comprised of two bars 105, each having an M-shapedtransverse cross section and which extend longitudinally of the railwaycar 50, each of the bars having a vertically extending side flange 107which is integrally connected to a horizontally extending channel flange108 which is integrally connected to a vertically extending abutmentflange 109 which is integrally connected to a horizontally extendingsupporting flange 111. As seen, the two bars 105 are arranged so as toform upper and lower longitudinally extending channels with the lowerchannel being smaller in transverse dimension than the upper channel andcentrally located with respect to the upper channel. The side flanges107 rest on the floor 80 and form the smaller channel therebetween.Similarly, the supporting flanges 111 rest respectively in the notch 64and the notch 74 and more particularly on the bearing surfaces 66 and 76thereof. The bars 105 along with the deck 55 form two spaced apartlongitudinally extending passageways I13 intermediate the channelflanges 108 and the floor 80 of the channel 60. The bars 105 areconstructed so that the abutment flanges 109 thereof fit firmly againstthe inner surfaces 62 and 72 of the end sections 61 and center section71, respectively of the deck 55, thereby to prevent debris from lodgingtherebetween. Similarly, the supporting flanges 111 of the bars 105 areconstructed to fit firmly against the bearing surfaces 66 and 76 of theend sections 61 and the center section 71 of the deck 55, respectively.

The latch strip is further provided with a keeper 115 positionedcentrally of the bars and resting on the floor 80, the keeper 115extending along substantially the entire length of the railway car 50.The keeper 115 is comprised of a single elongated bar 116 rectangular intransverse cross section sized to fit snugly within the lower channelformed by the flanges 107 of the bars 105. The keeper 115 is sealinglyconnected to the lower channel formed by the flanges 107 by a pluralityof rivets having enlarged heads 112, it being understood that the fitbetween the bar 116 and the adjacent one of the flanges 107 issufficiently tight to prevent debris from falling into the lowerchannel.

The keeper is provided with a plurality of latch notches extendingtransversely of the keeper 115 and in vertical alignment with arespective one of the latch openings 88 in the respective one of thetracks 85. Each of the notches 120 has a transverse extent equal to thetransverse extent of the bar 116 and includes opposed straight wallsections 121 interconnected by an arcuate wall section 122 forming thebottommost portion of the notch 120.

An important feature of the present invention is that the bottom mostportion 122 of-the notches 120 lie in the same horizontal plane as theupper surfaces of the channel flanges 108, thereby to providecommunication between the two sides of the keeper 115 to facilitatecleaning of the upper channel defined by the two channel flanges 108,and the abutment flanges 109. Since the bottommost portion 122 of thenotches 120 lie in the sameplane as the upper surfaces of the channelflanges 108, debris and the like present in the railway car 50 andlading can easily be cleaned from the latch strips 100 which isimportant when the lading is raw food such as natural grains and thelike. Prior art devices generally positioned the keeper notches on adifferent plane than the exposed surfaces of the latch strip, therebyforming pockets which collected debris and were difficult to clean.

Where the latch strips 100 do not extend the entire length of therailway car 50, there are provided end surfaces 125 of the latch strips100 which are positioned a distance apart, one from the other, so as toaccept one of the latch teeth 96 of the bulkhead latching bars 95.Adjacent strips 100 are maintained in position by providing a hole inthe deck 55 which is adapted to accept a male fastener having anassociated nut 147. A spacer 146 is provided intermediate the head 248of the male fastener 145 and the outwardly extending ends 125 of thebars 105 so as to prevent debris and the like from falling beneath thedeck 55.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is disclosed a second embodiment of thepresent invention wherein a keeper 215 is constructed and arranged tofit within the flanges 107 of the bars 105 which form the latch strip100. In this embodiment the two bars 105 are maintained in their spacedrelation by means of rivets 110 having enlarged heads 112, all ashereinbefore described. The keeper 215 includes two elongated bars 216and 217, the additive width of the two bars being sufficient to providea tight fit between the outside surfaces of the bars 216 and 217 and theinside surfaces of the adjacent flanges 107. The two bars 216 and 217are provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart notches220, each of which includes a bottom portion 222 and opposed straightwall portions 221. The bottom portion or surface 222 of each of thenotches 220 lies in the same plane as the upper surfaces of the adjacentflanges 108 thereby to effect all of the advantages hereinbefore setforth.

Referring now to FIG. 8 of the drawings, there is disclosed yet anotherembodiment of the present invention wherein akeeper 315 is associatedwith the latch strip 100. More particularly, the keeper 315 is comprisedof three abutting elongated bars 316, 317, 318 and 319. The additivewidth of the bars 316, 317, 318 and 319 is sufficient to provide a tightfit between the flanges 107 of the bars 105, the keeper 315 beingmaintained in position by a plurality of rivets 110 having enlargedheads 112 extending through the bars 105. Further, the individual bars316, 317, 318 and 319 of the keeper 315 are maintained in position by aplurality of rivets 310, each having enlarged heads 312 which maintainthe bars in position as shown in the drawing. The keeper 315 is providedwith a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart notches 320 constructedand arranged to provide the bottommost portion or surface 322 of each ofthe notches 320 in the same horizontal plane as the upper surfaces ofthe adjacent flanges 108, thereby to obtain all objectives andadvantages of the present invention.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be thepreferred embodiment of the pres ent invention, it will be understoodthat various modifications and alterations may be made herein withoutdeparting from the true spirit and scope of the present invention, andit is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modificationsand alterations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

What is claimed is:

l. A floor latch strip for use in a freight-carrying vehicle equippedwith a lading separator carrying downwardly projecting latch elements,said floor latch strip comprising, an elongated body formed of two barseach having an M-shaped transverse cross section, said bars beingpositioned longitudinally of the vehicle to form with the vehicle upperand lower longitudinally extending channels, with the bottom of saidupper channel being defined by spaced apart horizontally extendingportions of said bars and said lower channel being defined by spacedapart vertically extending portions of said bars, a keeper fixedlysecured to said two bars and extending substantially the entire lengththereof, the bottom of said keeper being secured to said lower channeland sealing said lower channel from said upper channel, said keeperhaving a plurality of locking slots therein for cooperating with thelatch elements to latch the lading separators in place, the bottom ofsaid slots lying in the same plane as the horizontally extendingsurfaces of said upper channel, whereby said upper channel is readilycleanable due to the alignment of said slots with said upper channel andsaid lower channel is prevented from being filled with debris due to thesealing thereof by said keeper.

2. The floor latch strip set forth in claim 1, wherein the uppermostportion of each of said M-shaped bars is constructed and arrangedsealingly to engage the vehicle floor to prevent debris from falling onthe vehicle floor below the elongated M-shaped bars.

3. The floor latch strip set forth in claim 1, wherein each of saidM-shaped bars has two flanges disposed at substantially right angles oneto the other, said right angle flanges being constructed and arranged toseal with a portion of the vehicle thereby to prevent debris fromfalling into a longitudinally extending channel formed by the twoM-shaped bars and the vehicle floor.

4. The floor latch strip set forth in claim 1, wherein each of saidM-shaped bars has two flanges disposed at substantially right angles oneto the other, said right angle flanges being constructed and arranged toseal with a portion of the vehicle thereby to prevent debris fromfalling into a longitudinally extending channel formed by the twoM-shaped bars and the vehicle floor.

5. The floor latch strip set forth in claim 1, wherein said keeperincludes two laminated bars extending longitudinally of the vehicle andfitting within the lower channel formed by said M-shaped bars, saidkeeper being maintained within said M-shaped bars by means of aplurality of rivets extending through said keeper and said M-shapedbars.

6. The floor latch strip set forth in claim 1, wherein said keeperincludes four laminated bars extending longitudinally of the vehicle andfitting within the lower channel formed by said M-shaped bars, saidkeeper being maintained within said M-shaped bars by means of aplurality of rivets extending through said keeper and said M-shapedbars.

1. A floor latch strip for use in a freight-carrying vehicle equippedwith a lading separator carrying downwardly projecting latch elements,said floor latch strip comprising, an elongated body formed of two barseach having an M-shaped transverse cross section, said bars beingpositioned longitudinally of the vehicle to form with the vehicle upperand lower longitudinally extending channels, with the bottom of saidupper channel being defined by spaced apart horizontally extendingportions of said bars and said lower channel being defined by spacedapart vertically extending portions of said bars, a keeper fixedlysecured to said two bars and extending substantially the entire lengththereof, the bottom of said keeper being secured to said lower channeland sealing said lower channel from said upper channel, said keeperhaving a plurality of locking slots therein for cooperating with thelatch elements to latch the lading separators in place, the bottom ofsaid slots lying in the same plane as the horizontally extendingsurfaces of said upper channel, whereby said upper channel is readilycleanable due to the alignment of said slots with said upper channel andsaid lower channel is prevented from being filled with debris due to thesealing thereof by said keeper.
 2. The floor latch strip set forth inclaim 1, wherein the uppermost portion of each of said M-shaped bars isconstructed and arranged sealingly to engage the vehicle floor toprevent debris from falling on the vehicle floor below the elongatedM-shaped bars.
 3. The floor latch strip set forth in claim 1, whereineach of said M-shaped bars has two flanges disposed at substantiallyright angles one to the other, said right angle flanges beingconstructed and arranged to seal with a portion of the vehicle therebyto prevent debris from falling into a longitudinally extending channelformed by the two M-shaped bars and the vehicle floor.
 4. The floorlatch strip set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said M-shaped bars hastwo flanges disposed at substantially right angles one to the other,said right angle flanges being constructed and arranged to seal with aportion of the vehicle thereby to prevent debris from falling into alongitudinally extending channel formed by the two M-shaped bars and thevehicle floor.
 5. The floor latch strip set forth in claim 1, whereinsaid keeper includes two laminated bars extending longitudinally of thevehicle and fitting within the lower channel formed by said M-shapedbars, said keeper being maintained within said M-shaped bars by means ofa plurality of rivets extending through said keeper and said M-shapedbars.
 6. The floor latch strip set forth in claim 1, wherein said keeperincludes four laminated bars extending longitudinally of the vehicle andfItting within the lower channel formed by said M-shaped bars, saidkeeper being maintained within said M-shaped bars by means of aplurality of rivets extending through said keeper and said M-shapedbars.